# The monthly check you can do yourself

Source: https://garagedoorscience.com/academy/how-your-garage-door-works/the-monthly-check · part of [How your garage door works, and what to do when it does not](https://garagedoorscience.com/academy/how-your-garage-door-works) · 5 min

DASMA, the door makers' trade group, says to make a monthly inspection and test of your garage door and opener part of your regular routine. Here are three checks you can do yourself. You need a board, a broom and a few quiet minutes.

## The three checks

**1. The reverse test.** Chamberlain, an opener maker, says the safety reversal system must be tested every month. Open the door fully. Lay a one inch board, or a 2x4 flat, on the floor, centered under the door. Close the door with the opener. The door must reverse when it hits the board.

**2. The photo eye test.** Clopay, a door maker, says to start closing the door with the opener, then wave a long object like a broom under it. If the sensor works, the door reverses. If it does not, the sensor needs a professional inspection.

**3. The balance check.** Start with the door fully closed. Look first. If the door is very heavy, or a spring or cable looks broken, do not lift it. Stop and call a technician. Springs and cables are a technician's job, never yours.

If all looks well, pull the manual release so the door is disconnected from the opener. Chamberlain says the door should then move easily with one hand. Lift it 3 to 4 feet and let go. A balanced door stays in place, held by its springs. If it slowly rises or gently falls, that is acceptable. If it slams shut or shoots upward with force, the door is out of balance. If it drops fast or will not stay up, step back and call a technician.

## If a check fails

A failed check means you call a technician. Chamberlain says that if the opener keeps failing the reversal test, call a trained door systems technician, and for a door out of balance, contact a professional door technician.

Springs and cables are always a technician's job. Never try to loosen, move or adjust door springs, cables, pulleys, brackets or their hardware, because all of them are under extreme tension. You do the looking. A technician does the touching.

## Try this

Once the three checks are done, look over the rest of your door with [the 24 point inspection](/inspection). It goes over the door part by part and gives you a scored report to keep. It does not run the reverse or balance test, so do the three checks above for those.

## Go further

- Video: [Is your garage door out of balance? How to check it safely](https://garagedoorscience.com/videos/blog-how-to-check-garage-door-balance)
- Article: [Garage door balance test: how to check if your door is balanced](https://garagedoorscience.com/blog/how-to-check-garage-door-balance)
- Article: [Yearly Garage Door Maintenance: What to Do Yourself and What to Leave Alone](https://garagedoorscience.com/blog/yearly-maintenance)

## Sources

- [Automatic Garage Door Opener Safety and Maintenance Guide](https://www.dasma.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/AutomaticGDOSafetyMaintenanceGuide.pdf)
- [How to Test the Safety Reversal System](https://support.chamberlaingroup.com/s/article/How-do-I-test-the-Safety-Reversal-System-1484145519301)
- [Garage Door Maintenance Guide](https://www.clopaydoor.com/residential/buyingguide/service-and-replacement)
- [How to test the balance of a garage door](https://support.chamberlaingroup.com/s/article/How-to-test-the-balance-of-a-garage-door-1484145605074)